New Bethel Baptist Church (Oak Ridge, Tennessee)

New Bethel Baptist Church is a historic church on Bethel Valley Road in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

New Bethel Baptist Church
New Bethel Baptist Church (Oak Ridge, Tennessee) is located in Tennessee
New Bethel Baptist Church (Oak Ridge, Tennessee)
New Bethel Baptist Church (Oak Ridge, Tennessee) is located in the United States
New Bethel Baptist Church (Oak Ridge, Tennessee)
LocationBethel Valley Rd., Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Coordinates35°56′1″N 84°18′19″W / 35.93361°N 84.30528°W / 35.93361; -84.30528
Area1.5 acres (0.61 ha)
Built1900
MPSOak Ridge MPS
NRHP reference No.92000409[1]
Added to NRHPMay 06, 1992

The church was built in about 1900. One of the concrete steps that leads to the church entrance is inscribed with the date "1924,"[2] but this is not thought to be an original part of the church. The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.

The church was founded in 1851.[2] The church ceased operation in 1942 when the land was taken over by the U.S. federal government for Manhattan Project facilities.[3] A large stone marker was erected behind the church in 1949 to commemorate the church and its congregation. It is inscribed "The church having been left in extended session in 1942, this monument was dedicated and the final church session closed at Memorial Day services May 29, 1949."[2] The New Bethel Baptist Church is the only remaining structure from the pre-World War II community of Scarboro, Tennessee.[4]

The church building is a frame, gable-front, three-bay structure with weatherboard siding, resting on a poured concrete foundation.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. ^ a b c "Archived copy" (PDF). www.cfo.doe.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 September 2006. Retrieved 13 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ "New Bethel Baptist Church Homecoming planned May 28" (press release). Oak Ridge National Laboratory. May 19, 2000. Archived from the original on December 24, 2003.
  4. ^ a b "National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation Form: Historic and Architectural Resources of Oak Ridge, Tennessee" (PDF). Archived from the original on October 15, 2012.